Moonlight

Known as Van Hier, Hierschl-Minerbi was considered Austrian despite being born in Trieste. He travelled extensively to the Netherlands, France, England and Italy, and enjoyed painting scenes of water, often at night. Though minimal in its detail, this painting shows his skill in capturing the stillness of the sea in moonlight. Only one white brushstroke defines the division between sky and water, and three others contribute to the effect of reflection. While on the right the form of a boat dissolves in the mist, to the left small figures suggest activity around a second vessel, bringing life to the scene.

Current Accession Number

REDMG:1951.60.1

Inscription

front lr 'Van Hier'

Subject

marine

Measurements

92 x 61 cm (estimate)

Material

oil on canvas

Acquisition Details

Bequeathed by Mrs E. C. H. Powley 1951.

Notes

The back of canvas is stamped by its maker, 'Moto ...' mostly illegible.

Mrs E. C. H. Powley, Basildon Park.

Rights Status

Reading Museum Service, Reading Burgh Council (all rights reserved)

Author

Dr Anne L. Cowe

Fishing Fleet

Sold on ebay 11th March 2008 for £323.13

Joachim van Hier 1834-? Dutch. 19c. Outstanding.

Oil on canvas.

"Fishing fleet at sunset".

FINE DUTCH MARINE PAINTING

This is an outstanding oil painting on canvas clearly signed “Van Hier” in the bottom left corner.

Although I have been unable to find a great deal of information on the artist he is listed on Artprice for 17 works with a top price of $13,611 being achieved in the early 1990’s. He was a recognised 19c Dutch marine painter, and he also painted landscapes and snow scenes with skaters. Apparently, he was actually born in Trieste in Italy.

The oil painting is in excellent condition. For the sake of form there is a small canvas patch evident on the rear of the picture, and covering a repair of a small pin hole which neither detracts or is particularly evident from the front. I have looked for the repair on the front, and it can be located if searched for just to the right of the peak of the sail of the right-most boat (the one with the sail shaped like the upturned point of a scimitar). Without being aware of the problem, it just looks like colouration of the sky.

From the information given to me when I purchased the item, the painting would date to 1880-1890 or thereabouts. It shows part of a fleet at sea, probably at dusk (it was originally sold to me as at sunrise, but see below). The brushwork and the painting to my mind is superb. I don’t think it would be claiming too much to say that the sunset is almost Turneresque in its quality. The painting may benefit from a slight cleaning, but it is ready to hang, as is.

The size of the canvas panel is 24" * 16". The painting is framed behind glass, and I believe that this was done by the previous owner as it was originally offered for sale to me unframed. The overall size including the frame is 27" * 19".

Provenance: acquired on Ebay from a reputable dealer. Additionally, during my researches, I believe that I have been able to establish additional provenance as below. This may assist you in your decision:

In 2002 a pair of paintings by Joachim van Hier (also known as Hiersch Minerbi – see also other aliases used by him below) were sold at Christie's in London as:

Lot 216 : Joachim van Hier (b.1834)

The fishing fleet at sunrise; and The fishing fleet at dusk both signed 'Van. Hier' (lower right and lower left respectively) oil on canvas 18 x 26 in. (45.8 x 68 cm.) a pair (2).

Christies 2002

It is my belief that this is the one "at dusk". The size is slightly different from the auction lot, which only gives the size of one painting only. Also, I do not know if such sizes would include the frame or not, and this item appears to have been framed since that time. The signature on this one is the lower left. The thumbnail of the painting for the Christie's auction is very similar to this, but appears to be of the sunrise.

Added to this, I was able to locate a web-site where an owner was seeking more information on a “Van Hier” painting. Please refer: www.findartinfo.com/artforum/topic~topic_ID~1435.asp. Reference can be made there to some of the information listed above, and a copy of his signature is provided as part of the information. The responses also identified Van Hier as having a number of aliases:

Fishing Boats

Riverside

Sold 6th February 2008 ebay for £203.63

This is a fine signed watercolour painting on artist's card dating circa 1900 I am advised. Signed by the artist Van Hier. The watercolour portrays a beautiful lake scene with figures on the lakeside and with lovers in a boat on the lake. Age marking to border but the watercolour is in excellent and age commensurate condition. Measures some 18.5" by some 8" not including the border. A delightful collectable paintingf which will make a fine display

NB This painting went missing on route to the purchaser who is offering a reward for its recovery.

Seaside

Dutch Canal Scene

Snow Scene

(Joachim Hierschl-Minerbi): Original Oil on Canvas, ca. 1880. Signed "Van Hier." There is some light chipping at the top of the canvas, which measures 24" x 36." The frame is 33 1/2" x 45 1/2."

A winter landscape with a frozen river. There is a black, stormy sky, in the distance the dark silhouette of a church and on the horizon, the narrow, gleaming lines of a fiery sunset. There is a central motif of a man and boy engaged in conversation on the ice. On the right of the composition, a line of trees along the river bank diminish in size establishing deep recession in space. Wooden boat moorings emerge from the frozen river. On the left, behind the trees, villagers make their way along a pathway alongside a row of snow covered cottages. The horizon is quite low enabling the artist to make a feature of the angry looking sky. The treatment is free, especially in the foreground where dry streaks of pigment describe the ice.

Current Accession Number

FAO 36

Inscription

front lr 'Van Mier' or 'Van Hier'?

Subject

landscape (winter)

Measurements

122.5 x 81.8 cm

Material

oil on canvas

Acquisition Details

Unknown.

Notes

Dutch artist, August Van Hier (19th/20th century) is the most likely attribution. He painted coastal scenes with fishermen, nocturnal landscapes and one painting called Figures on Country Road in a Snowstorm (sold Phillip's, London, 17 March 1987, lot 63). Another possibility: Joachim van Hier, also known as Joachim Hierschl-Minerbi, born 1834 Trieste (Austrian)?

Details of move to Paris

Detailed Biography

Lake Scene

Offered on eBay, April 2007

8" x 19" [20cm x 48cm].

Good condition, laid on card.

Fishing Boat

Reproduced by kind permission of Staffan Cederfeld, Kivik, Sweden

Dutch Harbour Scene

A painting offered on ebay in May 2008 but which has a signature that does not appear to be Van Hier's, and a style which also does not look quite right - it makes me think of mass-produced Chinese paintings, though it obviously appears older.